Building and Safety

If the detached accessory structure is less than 120 square feet and less than 12 feet high, No permit is needed. However, set back requirements maybe subject to planning approval. Call 510-494-4455 for more information.

Beginning July 1, 2011 all single family dwellings must have carbon monoxide detectors installed outside of each separate dwelling unit sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom(s) and on every level of a dwelling unit including basements. Call (510) 494-4400 or See 2nd page of handout for more information

Fences that are seven feet or less in height does not require a permit. Fences over seven feet high require permits.

According to the local Zoning Ordinance, fences located within residential districts may be permitted if they meet the minimum setbacks. For example, on corner lots, fences are restricted to thirty-inches nearest the radius of the street corner. To verify fence height requirements on your property, contact a Planning Department staff member at (510) 494-4455 or email them. Once the height requirements have been established and a permit is determined necessary, contact a Development Assistant at (510) 494-4460 for plan requirements. There is a sample plan of the fence requirements within the DSC. A copy can be faxed at your request.

Inspections for new fences generally take place in two stages. The first stage of inspection is conducted after all the postholes are drilled and cleaned. The second stage, the final inspection, is conducted after the entire fence is completed. The owner or the contractor must request the inspections through our automated inspection request system; instructions for inspection requests will be discussed at the time of permit issuance.

In order to legalize an addition or any other work that was done without a permit a Building Permit must first be obtained. In order to obtain a building permit plans must be submitted to the Development Services Center and approved by plan check staff as well as any other department that may be involved.

Depending on the size of the addition or scope of work the plans may be approved over the counter. For additions 750 square feet of less and meet conventional construction criteria you may be able to schedule an appointment for an over the counter review.

Once the permit is issued all the required inspections and approvals are to be done. For additions this may require opening or removal of concealed construction, the removal of some or all interior finishes and insulation and special inspection testing of epoxy anchors or hold-downs.

Please keep in mind that not all illegal additions can be approved.

For specific building and planning information, please contact the Development Services Center at 510-494-4460.

The building code is very specific in describing the type of work that can be done without a permit. See Permit exceptions below. If you are still unclear if your project needs a permit contact the Plans & Permits Division at (510) 494-4460. Permit exceptions

No person shall remove, alter or cover any notice after it is posted until the required repairs, demolitions or removal have been completed and the certificate of occupancy has been issued pursuant to the provisions of the Building Code. It is a misdemeanor to do so, except by an authorized representative of the department or upon written notification from the Chief Building Official. FMC § 7-4112

By definition, a Swimming Pool is considered to be any structure that's intended for swimming or recreational bathing and contains water that's over 24 inches deep, including spas and hot tubs. This includes in-ground, above-ground and on-ground swimming pools, and fixed-in-place wading pools. A Barrier is a fence, wall, building wall or combination thereof that completely surrounds the swimming pool and obstructs access to the swimming pool.

During construction of new pools, spas or hot tubs, the City inspector will enforce the barrier regulations by checking fence heights, gate operations, door alarms, and other associated requirements. A copy of the barrier requirements will be attached to the approved plans for his review.

You can voluntarily make your pool, spa or hot tub environment a safe one for family and friends by putting these requirements into play. Development Assistants within the DSC will issue building permits for voluntary barrier upgrades for existing pools.

For more information please call 510-494-4443 or stop by the DSC office at 39550 Liberty Street. Office Hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to noon.

Yes, it is possible to order copies of commercial and residential plans through the Development Services Center (DSC). However, if the plans are stamped and/or signed by a licensed engineer or architect, a letter of release from the licensed professional must be provided to a DSC staff member for approval before copies can be ordered.

Plans without licensed professional stamps and/or signatures can be readily ordered. Please contact the Development Services Center for cost related to copies at (510) 494-4443.

City Manager

Channel 27 is Fremont's municipal government cable channel. You can view the City Council meetings as well as event information and safety tips. At this time, Channel 27 is only available to Comcast cable subscribers, although you can watch the live stream on our website.

Civic Facilities

The Civic Facilities section of engineering focuses on the new construction of public facilities. Other public facilities are maintained by the Maintenance Services Division. Maintenance Services Division

Community Alert

The Fremont Police Department and Fremont Fire Department will alert you of emergency situations such as:• Evacuation• Hazardous materials releases or spills• Barricaded criminal suspects• Floods and fires in an immediate area

The City of Fremont may also notify you of non-emergency, time-sensitive information such as:• Road closures• Scheduled major maintenance work• Planned traffic impacts• Missing persons• Criminal descriptions• City events

The City of Fremont will send messages to phone numbers included in the 911 database and any other phone numbers you register at www.fremont.gov/CommunityAlert. The City may also send messages to email and SMS (text) addresses you registered.

CodeRED® uses the 911 database provided by your local telephone company to send messages. Your land-line home (listed or unlisted) or business phone number is automatically included in the system. The City will use unlisted land-line phone numbers only for emergency situations that pose an imminent threat to life or health. If you have caller ID, add (866) 419-5000 to your phone’s address book to be sure to receive the City’s time-sensitive and emergency alerts.

The CodeRED® system is a geographical-based notification system, which means that street addresses are needed to select which phone numbers will receive community alerts and notifications in any given situation.

You will need to re-register your new information at www.fremont.gov/CommunityAlert, by providing the following:• Your First and Last name• Fremont street address (physical address, no P.O.Boxes)• Telephone number (land-line and/or cellphone), email and/or SMS (text) addresses

CodeRED® will attempt to contact you on both primary and alternate phone numbers you registered. You may also receive messages to your registered email and SMS (text) addresses. Please note that standard text messaging charges apply.

Policy and contract agreements prohibit Emergency Communications Network/CodeRED® personal contact information from being shared, sold, traded, leased or loaned to outside parties unless required by law. The information will be used solely for purposes of community alerts and notifications.

The message will begin by identifying that the City of Fremont is calling with an emergency alert. Listen carefully to the entire message. Follow instructions that are given. Do not call 911 for further information unless directed to do so. If you have caller ID, the number 866-419-5000 will be displayed. If you call back 866-419-5000, you will be able to repeat the last message delivered to your telephone number.

If the number is busy and the call is a critical situation, the CodeRED® system attempts your phone number 3 times. This would be a great reason to register your work or cell phone number as an alternate number.

Community Preservation

It’s likely that the Code Enforcement Division has already started investigating your complaint. Part of an investigation involves researching property ownership, title, occupants, past or current permits, prior Code Enforcement actions, etc. The investigation may also involve working closely with other Departments and/or Agencies. A significant portion of Code Enforcement investigations are performed “behind the scenes” by exchanging correspondence with the violator, sending legal notices, etc.When the violator fails or refuses to correct the violation, the Code Enforcement Division initiates a formal legal process to compel compliance, which may extend the amount of time to resolve the violation. Our policy is that once an investigation is open we do not provide any information on the actions taken by the City while that case is active.

Courtesy Notices: This letter is intended to merely advise you that a violation of an applicable law has been observed. After receipt of the letter, you may: Correct the problem. Contact the Code Enforcement Officer assigned If you have not corrected the violation, as identified in the Courtesy Notice you may be subject to additional enforcement action. If it is determined that a violation exists or that you or the property you will be notified by an official “Notice and Order to Abate” or “ Administrative Notice” The notice will state specific Code sections for which you are in violation, the remedies available to you, and any fines, charges and/or penalties that you will be assessed. If you receive one of these official “Notices” you should contact the Code Enforcement Officer assigned to your case as soon as possible.

If you are having a mold problem, View the Indoor Mold Publication prepared by the California Department of Health Services. Mold is frequently a sign of water intrusion. City inspectors will inspect areas where mold is present for possible water intrusion and require the appropriate corrective action. If there is a need to determine specific types of mold it may be required to hire an Industrial Hygienist.

If you have more specific landlord / tenant issues, call Fremont Fair Housing and Landlord/Tenant Services at (510) 574-2270.

Development Services Center

Fill out a Research Request Form and submit it by fax or in person to the Development Services Center. It takes 5-10 calendar days upon submittal to pull. Our staff will contact you when they are ready. Research Request Form

Building permits are required before you build, alter, repair, or demolish any structure. This includes re-roofing projects, water heater and window replacements, and other similar projects. Visit the Building Permits Section for more information and useful forms.

Maps showing the location of property lines and existing easements are available for viewing at the Engineering Division office located on the second floor of the Development Services Center, 39550 Liberty Street, Fremont, CA 94538. Determining the actual locations of property lines and easements in the field would require the services of a licensed surveyor.

Engineering - Asphalt Overlay Project

Resurfacing activities will require temporary lane closures. Drivers should anticipate delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes around these work areas while construction is underway. Warning signs will be posted in advance of construction areas to inform motorists of lane closures.

Due to the nature of the project, parking will be restricted on streets where work is scheduled. "No Parking" signs will be posted on each street 3 days prior to the work. The posted signs will state the date and times when parking will be restricted. Vehicles parked in areas where work is scheduled will be towed at the owner's expense.

Neighborhood streets will still allow vehiclular traffic while the asphalt overlay work is underway. However, there may be a brief period of time when access into a home will be temporarily limited while the asphalt overlay is being placed in front of the driveway.

Access into and out of adjacent shopping areas and business centers will also remain open throughout construction except for a brief period of time when work must progress in front of a driveway.

If your normal trash pickup is scheduled on the same day as the pavement work, you can leave your trash containers out on the curb or street as you normally would. The contractor will coordinate their work with the garbage collectors to ensure that you do not experience an interruption in service.

An asphalt overlay is a type of pavement reconstruction that is performed on streets to improve the driving surface and to extend the life of the pavement. The treatment basically involves grinding away a portion of the existing pavement and placing a new layer of asphalt on top of it. Portions of a street are typically closed off to parking and traffic while the work is in progress. Once the work is complete and the street is reopened to traffic and parking.

The project will also upgrade street intersections with new curb ramps that meet current accessibility requirements and repair curbs that have been damaged by street trees.

1. Given the uncertainties that arise during street construction, we ask for your understanding when the scheduling of the work must be revised. We recognize that the lack of parking and the traffic delays are an inconvenience and we will work to minimize their impact to the extent we can. 2. Towing someone's car is not something we enjoy doing. In order to perform the street work, we request that you park off the street or in some other convenient area during the days when work is scheduled as indicated by the posted signs. 3. While we try our best to keep everyone informed, we may not always be able to reach everyone. We appreciate your efforts to keep your neighbors and visiting guests informed of the work that will take place and especially of the parking restrictions.

Your cooperation is integral to the success of this project. We thank you in advance!

You can receive updates by email on all Public Works projects using the City's online News Flash feature. To subscribe, follow these steps:

1. Click on the City logo near the top left corner of this page to go to the City's homepage2. On the left hand column, mouse over the link "eServices" and select "Notify Me" from the menu3. On the "Notify Me Sign-Up Page," scroll to the bottom of the screen and check the box next to "City of Fremont, Engineering"4. Scroll back to the top of the screen and enter your email address in the box labeled "Enter your Email Address:"5. Select whether you want an HTML email or text only.6. Click on the "Subscribe/Manage" button

You can receive updates by email on all Public Works projects using the City's online News Flash feature. To subscribe, follow these steps:

1. Click on the City logo near the top left corner of this page to go to the City's homepage2. On the left hand column, mouse over the link "eServices" and select "Notify Me" from the menu3. On the "Notify Me Sign-Up Page," scroll to the bottom of the screen and check the box next to "City of Fremont, Engineering"4. Scroll back to the top of the screen and enter your email address in the box labeled "Enter your Email Address:"5. Select whether you want an HTML email or text only.6. Click on the "Subscribe/Manage" button

Engineering - Flood Information

By being a member of NFIP, property owners are provided an opportunity to purchase flood insurance to insure against flood losses. With the City’s floodplain ordinance, monitoring of development and construction practices help reduce flood losses and high government costs associated with flood disasters.

The Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 and the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 requires the purchase of flood insurance as a condition of Federal or Federally related financial assistance for buildings within Special Flood Hazard Areas. For buildings located outside of the Special Flood Hazard Areas, purchase of flood insurance is not mandatory unless it is an established requirement of an institution’s standard lending practices. However, purchase of flood insurance for buildings outside the Special Flood Hazard Areas is a prudent practice.

FEMA determines flood risk through available information for a community. While historical flood data is an important element in identifying flood risk, other elements such as rainfall and river-flow data, topography, wind velocity, tidal surge, flood-control measures, development, etc. are also used to evaluate flood risk.

Under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 and the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, lenders are obligated to review the current NFIP maps to determine a structure’s location relative to the published Special Flood Hazard Area. If the lender determines that the structure is within the Special Flood Hazard Area, the borrower is notified to obtain flood insurance as a condition of the loan.

So long as the requirement to purchase flood insurance is not part of the institution’s lending requirement, property owners can contest the lender’s determination by requesting FEMA to review the lending institution’s determination. A Letter of Determination Review (LODR) will be issued by FEMA indicating FEMA’s finding. A fee for LODR is required and the LODR will not amend or revise the current NFIP maps.

FEMA maps indicating flood hazard areas, letter of map changes, and elevation certificates are on file with the City. The current maps are effective as of August 3, 2009. Updates to the current maps will only be done electronically through FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) online. The NFHL is a computer database that contains flood hazard map information including data from Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map and Letters of Map Changes. Access to historical maps and the National Flood Hazard Layer can be obtained through www.msc.fema.gov.

The City of Fremont entered into a Community Rating System in 2001 with a rating of Class 7. The rating provides property owners within Special Flood Hazard Areas a 15% reduction in premiums for flood insurance.

You can receive updates by email on all Public Works projects using the City's online News Flash feature. To subscribe, follow these steps:

1. Click on the City logo near the top left corner of this page to go to the City's homepage2. On the left hand column, mouse over the link "eServices" and select "Notify Me" from the menu3. On the "Notify Me Sign-Up Page," scroll to the bottom of the screen and check the box next to "City of Fremont, Engineering"4. Scroll back to the top of the screen and enter your email address in the box labeled "Enter your Email Address:"5. Select whether you want an HTML email or text only.6. Click on the "Subscribe/Manage" button

Engineering - Joseph St

The installation of new sidewalks and street trees will be an improvement to all properties on Joseph Street.

Installing a new sidewalk will, however, require the acquisition of some property from some homeowners. The amount of property needed will likely be a four to five-foot strip along the edge of the front property line.

Yes. An independent fee appraiser will determine the fair market value of the property. The property owner will then be given a formal offer based upon the appraisal and an appraisal summary statement which explains how the appraiser arrived at the value.

The City’s Real Property staff will contact all property owners affected by the acquisition and can answer any specific questions you may have about this process.

To minimize the amount of front yard space that would have to be acquired, the proposed new curb will bump out towards the center of the street by six feet. The bumping out of the curb will reduce the street width from 40 feet to 34 feet. The tentative plan is to not permit parking on the east side of Joseph Street.

Engineering - Sidewalk Repair

It depends. The project's main objective is to repair sidewalks and other concrete improvements so that the surface is safe for pedestrians to walk on. The amount of sidewalk replaced will depend on the amount of damage done by the trees. The project will not remove and replace sidewalks that have only cracks or other superficial damage.

The project will not repair sidewalks that have been damaged by privately owned trees.

Maybe. If the curb is raised enough to pose a tripping hazard due to a tree root, the project will likely remove and replace the curb. This repair may or may not fix the drainage problem. In areas where the slope of the street is relatively flat, it is not uncommon to have some standing water in the curb after a rain event.

Any decorative concrete, brick, or extensions to the sidewalk that poses a tripping hazard in the planter strip (i.e., the area between the curb and sidewalk) will be removed and filled in with topsoil. The project will not replace any concrete or paving within the planter strip.

If you have concerns about the removal of decorative concrete in the planter strip, please contact the City Engineering Department.

Actually, no. The California Streets and Highways Code (Sections 5610-5618) places the responsibility for the maintenance of the sidewalks on the owner of the property adjoining the sidewalk. As a service, the City provides the sidewalk repair project as a way to relieve the burden of maintenance from single family homeowners. All other property owners (e.g., owners of apartments, commercial properties, condominium complexes, churches, etc.) are responsible for any necessary repairs to the sidewalk adjoining their property.

Possibly. The City recognizes the benefits of preserving mature street trees in the neighborhood. In the interest of preserving as many trees as possible, the City will perform an exhaustive inspection of all the trees affected by this project to see what options are available. In many cases, the repair of a sidewalk or curb can be done by cutting a few roots from the tree. Trees that are known to have very shallow root systems and are notorious for damaging concrete improvements will likely be replaced with trees of a different species.

A list of all trees proposed to be replaced will be made available on this website prior to construction. If you have any concerns about the proposed replacement of a tree, please contact the project manager (see "Who can I contact...").

To receive free assessments, community services information and referrals, advocacy and ongoing support contact Fremont Family Resource Center Family Support Services, Suite A110, or call (510) 574-2021.

Yes, it's possible. The Food Stamp program is a Federal nutrition program and not a welfare program. Whether you’re working or not, if your income is currently very low, you might qualify for food stamps. The FRC holds Food Stamp Enrollment Clinics to assist people with food stamp applications only. See the FRC Food Stamp Enrollment Clinic flyer on our website for more info. To request an appointment, call the FRC at 574-2000. (But, if you need to apply for food stamps and any other social service programs like welfare, cash aid, or Medi-Cal, you should apply for all programs together at the Social Services office in FRC Suite #C330.)

Finance

A yearly renewal is required for the city's business and registration tax and the required forms are mailed to all registered businesses. These forms should be completed with the requested information and returned to Revenue Division with payment.

Renewal of existing Business Tax Registrations is due no later than 5:00 pm on the last day of the month following the expiration of the registration. If the last day of the month is a weekend or a holiday, the postmark deadline is the preceding business day.

You will need to complete an Out-of-Town Business Tax Application. Most out-of-town businesses performing services or selling within Fremont pay a $30 for a one-year Business Tax.Forms and Applications

Download and complete the Hazardous Materials Closure Application Form and contact us at (510) 494-4282 in order to notify your assigned Hazardous Materials Technician of the closure.Hazardous Materials Closure Application Form

Significant fire inspections are $222 and should be done every other year. Moderate fire inspections are $148 and also should be done every other year. Self-inspections are $74 and should be done every four years. Fees may be higher if your business requires additional inspections or specific operating permits.

Note: These are not applicable to hazardous materials or permitted facilities.

Contact Fire Administration at (510) 494-4200 and request a Knox order form. The packet can be emailed, mailed, faxed or picked up. It includes a product brochure and price list so you choose what will work best for you and place your order directly with the Knox Company.

Each position may require different application materials to be submitted. At the very least, every position requires a complete City application. In addition, some positions may require a resume, copies of specialized licenses or certificates, etc.

Carefully read the job announcement section "Application Instructions" for information on what application materials are required.

Applicants receive a confirmation email once they submit a complete application. The letter states that HR will further contact only those that best meet the qualifications for that position. Beyond the confirmation letter, HR only notifies candidates moving forward in the selection process.

Yes. Applicants can submit electronic interest cards through our online application system. Once you have created a profile, you can submit an interest card for any position that is not currently open. HR will notify you by email if the position becomes available; then you may submit an application at that time.

Most recruitments have an application deadline date that is listed on the job announcement. Application materials must be received by HR no later than the time specified on the deadline date.

Some recruitments are open until filled and do not have an absolute deadline to submit application materials. In most cases, these open until filled positions have a first review date. Application materials received by that date will receive consideration. The recruitment may close without further notice after the first review date.

The Holiday Season is a time of reflection to count personal and family blessings and to share the love we have received during the year with others. Some in our community live economically on the edge of crisis just struggling to maintain the barest of necessities for themselves and their families. Help those served by the Fremont Human Services Department by being part of Giving Hope—a program that aids needy families, children, frail isolated seniors, and their pet companions by bringing them holiday cheer. Last year through community contributions, we raised $22,000 in cash and $45,000 in toys, clothes, food, gift cards, and household items for a grand total of $67,000. This allowed us to serve over 71 families during the holidays (320 individuals), 200 seniors, 26 seniors’ pet companions and many families throughout the year.

Human Services - CDBG

The Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) Program is a federal entitlement that the City receives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This funding is used to benefit low and moderate income families.

CDBG funds are awarded on a two-year funding cycle. Requests for Proposoals are announced in December, with applications typically due near the end of January. For more information, please call the Human Services Department at (510) 574-2061.

CDBG funds are granted to public entities, non-profits and secular service organizations for capital projects, including acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of facilities and improvements for community use. They are also provided for public services. All projects must primarily benefit low and moderate income persons.

Human Services - Social Services Grant Program

The Social Service Grant Program runs on a three-year funding cycle. Notice of funding availability is advertised in December, with applications available in January. FY 2008-09 is the second of year of the present funding cycle. For more information please call the Human Services Department at (510) 574-2061.

Social Service Grant funds are granted to public entities, non-profits and secular service organizations who provide social services that foster the independence of service recipients and assist persons who lack basic necessities. Examples of social services include:• Childcare• Education and training• Programs for the homeless and hungry• Programs for persons with disabilities• Programs for abused children and adults• Housing Services• Meal delivery to homebound services• Respite and day care services• Health services• Housing services

Paramedic Tax

Voters approved increasing the City's special paramedic tax by the amount of each April's Consumer Price Index (CPI). Last year, the tax was set at $14.88. With the rise in this year's CPI, the tax increased to $15.00 per benefit unit, the maximum amount allowed in the original voter-approved measure. The tax will not increase beyond $15.00 per benefit unit unless approved by voters.

This is a tax for the countywide emergency medical services system, such as trauma centers and the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services District. Questions about this tax should be referred to the Alameda County EMS Agency at (510) 618-2055.

Fire Department firefighter paramedics are the first responders to your home when you call 9-1-1. Since fire stations are located in neighborhoods throughout the City, the firefighter paramedics can reach your home quickly. The Fire Department will also notify the local ambulance company, so if you need to go to the hospital, an ambulance will be there for you.

Patterson House

You may register online at www.RegeRec.com by entering the program barcode. Registration can also be done in person at our Community Services Office located at 3300 Capitol Ave Bldg B (Mon-Fri from 8:30AM-5:00PM). For any additional questions, please call 510-791-4196 or email RegeRec@fremont.gov. RegeRec

We will meet you at the front gate Train Station where you will need to sign in your child every day. Staff will then walk all campers back to the Patterson House for camp and then walk them back up to the Train Station for parent pick up.

Planning Division

Search for a property at the Focus on Fremont website. There one can also find summary information parcel by parcel, including lot size and assessor data. Or find your property using Planning PDF Maps.

Police - Online Reporting System

No, If a crime took place outside of the City of Fremont please call the police department for that city unless you are reporting Identity Theft. Identity Theft can be reported no matter what city it occurred in.

If you know the serial number (which is usually only obtained if you look at the item and record the serial number from the item, packing materials and receipts generally have item numbers or store related codes not serial numbers) do not use this reporting system.

Real Property

The Real Property section is part of the City’s engineering department and is responsible for the appraisal and acquisition of property interests needed for the public projects. The section is also responsible for the leasing and management of City-owned properties and the sale of City-owned excess property.

Recycling Services

You may dispose of your household hazardous waste at an approved Alameda County facility. About drop off, acceptability, and location of other Alameda County facilities, call Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste (800) 606-6606 or visit their website

Click on the link below to visit Stopwaste.org for a list of locations to take your reusable items. These items may include: bubble wrap, computers, phones, applicances, furniture and clothing. www.Stopwaste.org

Sustainability

In 2006, the City of Fremont signed onto the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, formalizing the City's commitment to environmental protection. That same year, Fremont also passed a Sustainability Policy, requiring the use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards in the design, construction, operation and maintenance for new City facilities.

At the end of 2007, the Mayor appointed a Green Task Force, which provided a list of recommendations to City staff.

In 2008, the City completed its Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory in partnership with StopWaste and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.

By 2011, the City had completed its General Plan 2030 update, including a Sustainability Element as the opening chapter and central theme throughout the document.

On November 13, 2012, City Council adopted the City’s first Climate Action Plan, which provides a blueprint for achieving a 25% greenhouse gas emissions reduction from a 2005 baseline by the year 2020.

To help implement the Climate Action Plan, the City appointed an Environmental Sustainability Commission as well as a Sustainability Coordinator in 2013.

At the beginning of 2014, Fremont completed the 2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Update utilizing the newest calculation methodology, demonstrating a decrease of 11% in community-wide emissions between the years of 2005 and 2010.

The City now supports a number of sustainability projects, including efforts to encourage energy efficiency projects, promote clean transportation options, adopt renewable energy sources, improve in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, divert waste through recycling and composting, conserve water, and other related measures. Fremont Sustainability

The City of Fremont currently is home to 24 Bay Area Green Business Certified businesses, which are listed on the City's website. In addition, there are 7 LEED certified commercial buildings (including 3 City of Fremont Fire Stations) and 34 ENERGY STAR® certified sites (including 22 Fremont Unified School District sites). Fremont Green Business List

The Bay Area currently has nearly 40% of the plug-in electric vehicles in California at around 25,000 vehicles. With nearly 1,600 of those vehicles owned by Fremont residents, Fremont is responsible for 30% of all of the electric vehicles in Alameda County. In fact, Fremont’s 94539 zip code has been issued more EV rebates than any other single zip code in California! Supporting electric vehicle infrastructure is one key way that Fremont is facilitating the adoption of cleaner methods of transportation, helping to achieve the stringent community-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 25% by the year 2020.

By the end of 2014, there are plans to double the number of electric vehicle charging stations that are open to the public in Fremont. Under a funding opportunity from the California Energy Commission (CEC), the City will receive a total of eight publically accessible, dual-port Level 2 electric vehicle chargers. Six of these chargers will be installed at angled parking spaces along three separate blocks of Capitol Avenue as part of the Capitol Avenue Extension project in Downtown Fremont. Another charger will be placed at the City’s Development Services Center, whose Permitting Department attracts many daily visitors. The last charger will be placed at the Boathouse in Fremont’s Central Park, which is the most heavily used park in the community. Under the same funding opportunity, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce plans to fund the installation of six dual-port Level 2 and two dual-port DC fast chargers at Fremont’s Bayside Business Park along the I-880 corridor.

Fremont also encourages retailers to consider the installation of public stations at their places of business, such as those already found at Whole Foods on Mowry and the Target at Pacific Commons.

As a current or future EV owner, you can find out where all existing publicly accessible EV charging stations are located across the nation through the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center (see link below). Electric Vehicle Charging Station Locations

The Alameda County Water District (ACWD) has put in place mandatory restrictions intended to prohibit the wasteful use of water. The limitations found in the ordinance are primarily focused on reducing water consumption for landscape irrigation. In addition to these restrictions, ACWD has created a Drought Resource Center offering customers free conservation and leak detection kits, water saving tips and resources, and a number of rebates for water efficient upgrade projects. With such measures in place, the City is hopeful that per capita daily water consumption will continue to decrease and more extreme measures can be avoided. ACWD Drought Resource Center

The City recently updated its General Plan, which provides a framework for growth and development for the next 20 years. As part of the Plan update, one of the factors analyzed was the availability of water. Based on the analysis, water supplies were determined to be sufficient to allow for the growth envisioned in the General Plan. While this year has been exceptionally dry, the City is still using the General Plan as its basis for evaluating new development. That being said, the City of Fremont recognizes the current severity of the drought and is working to reduce water consumption in its operations where appropriate. General Plan

Transportation Engineering

Under certain conditions, traffic signals are installed to delineate right-of-way, improve overall safety, and reduce travel delay at an intersection. The City uses a series of criteria (warrants) from the California Manual for Uniform Traffic control Devices to determine if a traffic signal needs to be installed at an intersection. The installation of a traffic signal is expensive (approximately $250,000 to $300,000) and a significant investment for the City. As a result, the City maintains a priority list of locations and funding is allocated every two years by the City Council in which to build a traffic signal from the list. For a more detailed explanation of the process, please see the New Traffic Signals document.

If you would like to request a new traffic signal, please contact the Transportation Engineering Division by completing an online form on the main Transportation Engineering page or by calling (510) 494-4745.New Traffic Signals

Under certain conditions, stop signs are installed to delineate right-of-way and improve safety at an intersection. Stop signs are not installed to deter vehicle speeding. The City uses a series of criteria (warrants) to determine if all-way stops need to be installed at an intersection. All-way stop signs can be warranted if both major and minor street traffic exceeds a certain vehicular threshold in addition to having one of the following: 1) if an intersection has a history of correctable traffic collisions, or 2) if the intersection has a significant number of automobile-pedestrian conflicts. For a more detailed explanation, please see the Stop Signs document.

If you have a stop sign request, please contact the Transportation Engineering Division by completing an online form on the main Transportation Engineering page or by calling (510) 494-4745.Stop Signs

The City no longer installs speed lumps on residential streets. The City's Residential Traffic Calming Program , which was the mechanism for installing speed lumps, was eliminated in 2003.

If you have a complaint about vehicles speeding on residential streets, please contact the Transportation Engineering Division by completing an online form on the main Transportation Engineering page or by calling (510) 494-4745. If a speeding issue has been determined, the Transportation Division will work with the Police Department to request additional enforcement.

Crosswalks exist at all intersections whether they are marked or not. Crosswalks are marked only where necessary for the guidance of pedestrians to direct them to the safest of several potential routes. Studies have shown there is a higher collision rate within marked crosswalks than there is within an unmarked crosswalk. This is due to the fact that pedestrians tend to have a false sense of security within marked crosswalks in believing motorists will automatically yield the right-of-way to them. Please see the Crosswalks document for more information.

If you have a crosswalk request, please contact the Transportation Engineering Division by completing an online form on the main Transportation Engineering page or by calling (510) 494-4745.Crosswalks

Speed laws, as well as other traffic laws, are enacted by the State Legislature and compiled in the California Vehicle Code (CVC). Local jurisdictions have authority to establish increased or reduced speed limits on the basis of engineering and traffic surveys (CVC 22358). Such surveys must include an analysis of roadway conditions, accident records and a sampling of the prevailing speed of traffic, (CVC 627). Other factors may be considered, but an unreasonable speed limit, which is called a speed trap, may not be established (CVC 40802).

Please see the Speed Limits document for more detailed information regarding speed limits. If you have further questions regarding the establishment of speed limits or a missing or needed speed limit sign, please contact the Transportation Engineering Division by completing an online form on the main Transportation Engineering page or by calling (510) 494-4745.Speed Limits

The California Vehicle Code has established the law regarding parking near fire hydrants. Pursuant to section 22514, no person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

The City does not paint red curb in front of fire hydrants due to the high cost of maintenance. The City has thousands of fire hydrants within the city limits and maintaining 30 feet of red curb in front of all of them would take away time that can be spent on other public facilities’ maintenance within the City.

If there is a vehicle parked in front of a fire hydrant please call the Police Department at (510) 790-6800. If a vehicle is illegally parked by a fire hydrant, the Fire Department will use all means necessary to obtain access to the fire hydrant. If there is a fire emergency, please call 9-1-1 immediately.

Yes, fees are based on a sliding scale depending on household income and family size. We also accept Medical and United Behavioral Health Care. Please call our main line at (510) 574-2100 for further assistance.